VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

robert jadah · Guest

Perish the thought, Caryn.
I don't fire up the system for anything less than $110.
But while we're tarrying and waiting for our first reasonably payed gig (and rating), somebody will already have ten stellar reviews for eleven $4.99 jobs.

Guaranteed.

richgates · Guest

If someone is going to hire talent based on a rather subjective and arbritary rating system, they deserve all the $4.99 talent they can get. And Robert, not saying you fit that category at all, quite the contrary. I get your point however. Any time you have a ratings system, some people are going to try and game it to their benefit.

I've heard of huge E-Bay fraud where someone builds up fake ratings and then rips off a bunch of people. It certainly doesn't seem likely here, but it would be my preference to do away with the ratings altogether. Especially if there is a escrow-like service in place. Which I believe is going to happen with voices.com

CarynClark · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 5:42 am Post subject:

I hear ya, Robert...

There's no perfect system.

<sigh>
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Drew · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:33 am Post subject:

We pay to play. Why should we be rated at all?! By anyone.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:35 am Post subject:

That's an outstanding point, Drew. I'm paying to be up there. I should be represented in the best light possible.
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Drew · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 2:06 pm Post subject:

"Perzacktly", Jeff. It would be different if admission was by invitation, the company was a real agency and our actions had some direct relflection on Voices.com. But since anybody with a few bucks in their PayPal account can join, we're auditioning right along with the noobs.
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asnively · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject:

Very good point, Drew!
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BenWils · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject:

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject:

Along those lines, Ben, why give them a range? Make them specify how much they're willing to pay, period.
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asnively · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject:

Yeah. I hate those bleeping ranges. Just be straightforward: I'm offering a gig. It pays $175 to the right talent. The low-balling and undercutting and all is so undignified and not appropriate to our profession.
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Drew · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject:

Damn skippy!
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Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

tackerman · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject:

After this run at both sites I'm calling it a day.

CarynClark · Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

I've been in the Everglades all weekend... checking out the gators.

Drew, what a concept!! I'm likin' your thinkin'...
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"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 6:46 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry if I continue this thread but the last few posts point right to something that happened to me just a couple of days ago. I was going to post it as a separate thread but perhaps it really isn't worth all that.

So I get a private lead from a customer off V123. They state that they like my voice and they have a flash presentation that they need a "little hard sell tone with a bit of hype". About 7 minutes worth of text. This would also need some background music and could I accomodate. Of course the "limited" budget is $100.00
Sure I say! I let them know I have plenty of royalty free music so let's discuss what kind will work for him. I ask for a number to call, or he can call me, send me the script and let's get to work!

Next day I get another private lead through V123. It's the same customer again. He is under a time constraint. (wow, never heard THAT before) and could I turn this around for him quickly. Also, would I mind reading a couple lines from a script as a demo. In neither of these posts was there any piece of the script to read.

OK, this is where I start to scratch my head. This was a private lead, so I expect that he has pretty much made up his mind on the talent, just asking if I can do it for him. When I say "yes yes yes" he comes back with "I need it real fast and will you do a short demo"??? If he needs it fast, let's communicate via phone, which I have already offered to do at no cost to him. And NOW he wants a demo? So my reply this time is to tell him yes, I can get this to him in a fairly short amount of time, and let's chat about what he wants and needs. I purposely ignored the "do a demo for me" line. I just kept piling on the "I can do it for you, let's get started" replies. Plus, it's a $100.00 spot. He chose me. Why do I now have to do the demo part?

So, long story long, he wrote back saying he went with another talent. Again wrote through the V123 system via a private lead to tell me this. Now I do appreciate that. He also mentioned he had another project coming up and to know if I would be interested in that one when he gets the details.

I replied that I was sorry I couldn't be his voice for this project but I'd be happy to work with him on any future project he might have and that I hope the project goes well for him.

So I guess it's possible I lost the job because I didn't reply to his custom demo request but I really didn't see the point since he directly contacted me. To me a private lead says "I want you, can you accomodate?" What do you all think?
Wow, I'm long winded!
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richgates · Guest

Bob,

A couple of the private leads I've gotten were from clients who were in the shortlist stage. They listened to all the submitted demos that they wanted and then contacted a select few they wanted to read something else. I didn't confirm but I suspect in the two I've seen so far that fit this criteria were for clients who didn't ask for a custom demo, but I could see a client wanting perhaps to hear another take with the people from the shortlist.